Author Archives: Catherine

Traveling solo can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a lifetime. As is true for most everything in life that’s worthwhile, a lot of preparation must go into it. To prepare, we’ve been discussing safety tips, what successful solo travelers wish they knew before their first solo trips, and 5 easy steps to

While Amsterdam is commonly known for its legalized prostitution and marijuana, the capital of the Netherlands is so much more than that. Amsterdam, the man-made city of canals and rivers, is full of rich culture and beautiful sights. On my first trip to Amsterdam, 10 years ago last month, I was visiting as part of

When you see others living your dream, do you ask, “How can I make that happen?” Or do you make excuses and say, “I can’t do that because…” Do you imagine that everyone else has it easy – that they have none of the obstacles that you face? “Well, of course, Angelina already dropped the

Many of you know that I am an avid proponent of traveling with only a carry on, but I haven’t always been that way. My journey into living and traveling with less was actually forced upon me about three years ago in Bali. Nothing on that trip seemed to go smoothly, except, maybe, the car

The most frequently asked questions I receive about solo travel are safety related. Sometimes these questions come from family and friends who worry about me while I’m gone, and other times they come from women who want to try solo travel but are a little nervous. With that in mind, I reached out to eight

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tiffani Emery, a high school math teacher in Seymour, Indiana, about her very first solo travel experience. I spoke with Tiffani just days after her return from New Orleans, and she was full of incredible insights and personal observations. So many, in fact, that I couldn’t figure out

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tiffani Emery, a high school math teacher in Seymour, Indiana, about her very first solo travel experience. I spoke with Tiffani just days after her return from New Orleans, and she was full of incredible insights and personal observations. So many, in fact, that I couldn’t figure out

At Her Bags Were Packed, we’re not just about travel; we’re about helping women overcome and release emotional baggage to live, love, and travel lighter. This week, I’m excited to have Jamie share the story of her first real, big adventure, and how it helped her overcome her anxiety and low self esteem. If you’re interested

Last week, I shared with you my “Solo Travel Guide,” five challenges or activities to help ease you into solo travel. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing stories from inspiring women about their first experiences with solo travel, along with advice and insights from experienced solo travelers. To kick that off, I reached out

Many women say they’d like to try out solo travel but are nervous because they’ve never done it before. They aren’t sure if it’s safe, worry about what others might think, and fear they won’t like themselves when they get all alone. If you can relate to these incredibly common fears and concerns, you are